Question

How likely is the Vanishing Twin?

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I am 10 weeks preg. About 3 weeks ago i was told i was having twins. Since then i have read a lot of stuff about the vanishing twin. This really worries me. I was told by my doctor that ofter there is a heartbeat that it is very unlikely that 1 of them will disapear. But i read that it can happen in the 2nd or 3rd trimester. How likely is it to happen since there was a heartbeat?

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Hi. I've never heard of vanishing twin before, but now have learned a little about it. Since conception I've had this intuition that it was twins. No reason, just felt it. I went for my first sonogram at 8 1/2 weeks. The sonogram showed two sacs but just one baby. Suddenly you're slammed with all of these conflicting emotions. Happiness that the one baby is showing as strong and healthy, but sad about the loss of the other. Everyone says it happens for a reason, and I know that's true. But it doesn't help your heart feel better to hear that. All the reading and research I've done says that almost all the time the "singleton" does just fine and is born healthy. Let's all pray for that.

I am 6 weeks pregnant with twins through IVF and have been doing a lot of research about vanishing twins. The peer reviewed articles I have read say that you have 90% chance of carrying both pregnancies after you have heard both heart beats. There is still the chance later on you can absorb one, but continue to be hopeful and positive. I am grateful that I have at least one this has been a long road, but I too pray that both will survive.

I was pregnant with triplets after successful IVF. At 5 week ultrasound, had 2 out of 3 heartbeats - my OB said to count the 3rd one out. Yesterday I had my 9 week ultrasound and sadly discovered that one of the two stopped developing around the 6th/7th week and no longer had a heartbeat. So I am down to one baby that is the proper size for nine weeks and has a good heartbeat, but I'm scared to death to lose this one now. Especially if my body miscarries #2 which is still in my system and takes along #1 with it! I can't believe I went from scared to be pregnant with 3 to praying that I'm able to keep one....

You are not alone. I had 2 heartbeats at week 5 u/s. At first OB/GYN appt, heard heartbeats via doppler; dr. said that @ 12 weeks, can't hear 2 distinct heartbeats but since I was ok, no bleeding, no other symptoms we assumed all was good. Later that week, at the First Look u/s the u/s tech looked at me and told me that one didn't make it. Around 8 weeks I lost it. So I have also been very fearful of losing this one. I am 16 weeks and heard the heartbeat today and it was strong. So far, so good. That is all I can do; take it day by day. I wish you all the best of luck!

At 6w2 days, I had my 1st u/s where we were told we were having twins, but Baby B measured 3 days earlier & had no hb or fetal stem. My doc explained that Baby B should be absorbed soon & should not harm Baby A. I was not hoping for twins by any means, but I am struggling with such a mix of emotions from this - happy that Baby A is ok, sad that Baby B is not, worried that Baby A will be impacted, etc. My understanding is that in most cases, the remaining baby remains unharmed & VTS is very common. There are other scenarios, but they are MUCH less likely. As if having a singleton wasn't stressful enough in the 1st trimester for us mommies being aware of all that can go wrong, this throws a billion new possibilities into the equation! I am trying to stay positive & remember that everything happens for a reason, but that's much easier said than done. It helps to hear from others in this boat. I will have an u/s on Mon. at 7w5d so I should know more by then. TAKE CARE, MAMAS!!!! :)

I found out yesterday that I was carrying twins. One passed away, but the surviving one appears to be healthy and normal. It really doesn't make you feel the loss of the other any less. It is heartbraking. I am happy to have my 3 year old daughter at home. she comforts me.

Hi, All-
I just got home from my 9 week ultrasound. During the appointment, I found out that I was pregnant with twins. Unfortunately, one did not survive. They say it probably stopped growing at week 6 or 7. I was already nervous about having a miscarriage, because I just went through an 18 week miscarriage at Christmas and, naturally, this made me a little nervous the second time around. This is the first I've heard of a vanishing twin. I'm feeling hopefull the remaining baby will survive. Yet I still feel disappointment and loss over the baby that did not survive. I think this message board is great, because now I realize that I'm not alone in this. Others don't seem to get what I'm going through. With both miscarriages, well-meaning family and friends say things like "it happens for a reason" and whatnot. I know they're just trying to make me feel better, but it's sooo disappointing! They just don't understand : (

I also just heard of the vanishing twin. I found out I was prego but did not know I was having twins. I went thourgh a miscarraige at about 9 weeks that I thought was the only baby I was carrying. I felt it come out and then saw it lying in my undergarment. I was bleeding very badly and went to my doctor. Because they didn't know I was pregnant with twins and we were sure I misscarried, they sent me home and told me to come back the next day when the bleeding slowed down so they can check me. That is when I saw the second baby. I was so happy to still be pregnant but still so sad to have lost a baby. I will never forget holding it in my hand so tiny and spending the entire night thinking I was no longer pregnant. I hope the remaining twin will be strong and to full term. The mix of emotion is so hard to handle. Good luck to all and everything happens for a reason.

at 7 weeks i was told that I was carrying twins. non identical. my husband and our children were shocked but still happy! you could see both hearts beating it was magical. i started trying to get my head around it and started becoming excited but after about a month i got this gutting feeling one day after i had been ill that something wasnt right. so we went for a private scan to find that one of the twins heartbeats was no longer going! i sobbed and sobbed. and in the meantime as i was sobbing i could see the remaining twin looking at me on the scanner. the baby was looking as if towards us. and honestly looked like it was waving. it took some getting my head around that we lost one. but now i am 31 weeks pregnant with a baby girl. we are going to give our daughter a middle name which we named the baby we lost. so the baby that wasnt strong enough will always be a part of our lives and our daughters life!! x

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